The return of El Niño! The Weather Network delivers its Spring Forecast
Meteorologists predict a few parting shots of winter before spring sets in
Oakville, Ontario, February 28, 2017 – With the majority of Canadians experiencing wild swings in weather this past winter, many are wondering when consistent spring weather will be in the air. The Weather Network’s meteorologists have the answers, with the blossom of their Spring Forecast hitting Canadian doorsteps for the months of March through May. Despite some unusually warm temperatures currently hitting parts of the country, bouts of late winter weather are expected for many through March. However, much of the country will welcome near or above seasonal temperatures by May.
“We’re entering uncharted territory this spring, making this Spring Forecast particularly challenging as the Pacific Ocean water temperature trends are incredibly unique,” said Chris Scott, Chief Meteorologist at The Weather Network. “The most recent El Niño in 2016 was one of the strongest on record and to have another developing El Niño occur so soon is something we haven’t seen in the past 75 years.”
Western Canada will be prone to more frequent dips into late winter weather through March and early April before more typical spring weather sets in. This is good news for skiers and snowboarders who will get to enjoy an extended ski season. Meanwhile, Central and Eastern Canada will be along the battle line between abnormally warm air from the south and late winter cold to the north, setting the stage for an active storm track through spring.
El Niño, characterized by warmer than normal Equatorial Pacific Ocean waters and La Niña, cooler than normal waters in the same area, are major drivers in the overall global weather pattern, no matter the season. This provides for a season with heightened uncertainties since we are still seeing lingering effects from the previous El Niño.
| The Weather Network’s Spring 2017 Forecast | ||
| Region | Temperature Outlook | Precipitation Outlook |
| British Columbia | Below normal | Near normal except above normal for southeastern portions of the province. |
| Alberta | Below normal for western parts of the province, near normal for eastern parts. | Above normal for southern Alberta, near normal elsewhere. |
| Saskatchewan | Near normal. | Near normal except above normal along and south of the TransCanada Highway. |
| Manitoba | Near normal. | Near normal except above normal along and south of the TransCanada Highway. |
| Ontario | Near normal except above normal along and south of the 401-corridor. | Above normal for northwestern and northeastern parts of the province. Near normal for most of southern Ontario except above normal along the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. |
| Québec | Near normal except above normal for Montreal and the Eastern Townships. | Near normal. |
| The Maritimes and Newfoundland | Near normal except above normal for southwestern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. | Near normal. |
| Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | Near normal except below normal for extreme southern Yukon. | Near normal. |
Complete Spring Forecast details, including regional breakdowns, maps and charts are available at www.theweathernetwork.com/spring. Canadians can be prepared for changeable weather patterns by visiting www.theweathernetwork.com or by downloading The Weather Network App.
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Celebrating 27 years, Pelmorex Media Inc. is the parent company of The Weather Network, MétéoMédia, Eltiempo.es and Wetterplus.de. Pelmorex operates in North America, Europe, LATAM, India and Australia. The Weather Network and its French counterpart MétéoMédia are Canada’s most popular weather and information services on TV, web and mobile apps. Eltiempo is Spain’s leading multi-platform weather information provider. Pelmorex also operates Canada’s National Alerting Aggregation and Dissemination System which aggregates and distributes emergency alerts issued by authorized government agencies.
